Build-up unit for cabinet structures



April 19, 1960 R. w. snLER 2,933,360

. BUILD-UP UNIT FOR CABINET STRUCTURES Filed April 17, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 April 19, 1960 R. w. sra-LER BUILD-UP UNIT FOR CABINETSTRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17, 1957 United States Patent'BUILD-UP UNIT FOR CABINET STRUCTURES Richard W. Sitler, St. Charles,Ill., assignor to Aurora quipment Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporationof linos Application April 17, 1957, Serial No. `653,409

1 Claim. (Cl. S12-e195) utilizing a series of adjacent independentdesk-like units,

that a basic dependent build-up unit be utilized of the type vwherebythe dependent build-up unit may be connected to a cabinet `to afford adesk-unit in a continuous row of such desk-units. By utilizing abuild-up unit the `buyers cost may be substantially reduced withoutsubstantial sacrifice in the utility or construction `of the desk-likeunits.

Accordingly, it is an object ofthis invention to `pro-` vide a new andimproved dependent `build-.up unit.

Still another object of this invention is `to provide `a dependentbuild-up unit having `an economical construction with the result thatthe buyers cost may be substantially reduced.

Still another object of this invention is `to .provide `a continuous rowof dependent build-up units each of which depends on adjacent units forsupport `to :provide a `series of desk-like units.

According to the general features of this invention there is provided ina cabinet structure including a basic .cabinet unit for providing a desk.type cabinet unit,` the improvement of a build-up unit "for assemblywith the `basic cabinet unit, Vthe build-up unit being U-shaped including `spaced upper and lower superimposed legs with the upper legAcomprising va counter and with the `lower les Comprising e rieidfyinsShelf, an upright Cabinet portion connecting the legs together at thebight of the U, the upper leg having opposite end portions one of whichis carried on top of and fastened to the cabinet portion and the otherof the end portions being adapted to be fastened to the basic cabinetunit, the lower leg having terminal portions one of which is fastened inabutting engagement against the cabinet portion and the other terminalportion adapted for abutting engagement and attachment to the basiccabinet unit below the upper leg.

According to other features of this invention the upper leg portion inthe above cabinet structure is substantially elongated in lengthrelative to the lower leg for overlying retained disposition on top of aportion of the basic cabinet structure to provide a desk-type cabinetunit.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fullybecome apparent in view of the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings illustratingtherein several embodiments and in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a dependent build-up unit;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on theline II-II of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrowsonly with certain detail added in Figure 2;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of an extended desktype .right angles toone another.

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`cabinet unit having my dependent build-up unit in as- `showing thebasic build-up unit in assembly with a single `door type cabinet unit;and

. Figure 6 is a front elevation of a desk-like cabinet runit with amodified form of my build-up unit in assembly therewith.

The reference numeral A10 in dicates generally a dependent build-up unitfor assembly with a cabinet or `other structures such as a desk typecabinet unit. The

unit 10 especially lends itself to use vin the provision `of acontinuous row `of desk type cabinet units. The

`build-,up unit is preferably made from fabricated metal so as toprovide a sturdy durable structure. The build up Vunit 10 is U-shaped inconfiguration and includes. spaced `upper and lower super-imposed legs`11 and 12 with the upper leg comprising a counter and with thelower legcomprising a rigidifying shelf. Disposed between the legs -11 and 12 isan upright locker cabinet portion or locker unit 13 which is in assemblywith the legs at the bight of the U.

The lower leg 11 is preferably generally L-shaped in having a pair ofleg portions 14 and 15 which are at The leg portions 14 and 15; aredened at Vthe periphery by peripheral edge portions 16 all of which areturned away at right angles from the .leg portions 14 and 15 toreinforce the leg lll (Figure 1). At opposite ends of the leg 11, theperipheral edge portions 16 are provided with slots 17.

The upper leg 12 vhas a main counter portion 18 which terminates at `theforward end thereof in a downwardly turned skirt portion 19. Toreinforce the skirt portion 119 its lowermost peripheral edge portion 20is turned away at right angles therefrom. Disposed at the rearward `areaof the counter portion 18 is an upwardly turned back panel portion 21. 4j

`At the left hand side of the leg 20, a channel 22 is Vfastened to thecounter portion 18 by means of fasteners 23.

`Associated with the legs 11 and 12 is the cabinet `structure 13 whichin the illustrated form is shown provided with a hinge mounted swingablelocker door assembly 24 including a latch 25 to open and closethe door.

In the assembly of the leg 11 with the cabinet 13 fasteners 26 areutilized for fastening the longitudinally opposite peripheral angeportions 16 to side wall 27 of the cabinet structure 13 at one end andto a supporting structure such as that shown in Figure 3. It is in thismanner that the longitudinally spaced peripheral flange portions 16 ofthe legs 14 and 15 are maintained in abutting assembly with the sidewall 27.

AIn the assembly of upper leg 12, a portion of the upper leg is carriedin overlying assembly upon the top of the cabinet structure 13. To thisend, fasteners 28 are utilized to secure the counter portion 18 to wallportion 29 of the cabinet structure 13 to maintainthe leg 12 in assemblytherewith.

With the completion of the construction and assembly of the dependentbuild-up unit 10, it will be noted the legs 11 and 12 each extend thesame distance away from the cabinet structure 13.

Shown in Fig. 3 is an application of my dependent build-up unit with adesk-type cabinet unit 30. The unit 30 has laterally spaced cabinets 31and 32 with the cabinets 31 and 32- each provided with a series ofdrawers 33 and 34. Connecting the cabinets 31 and 32 are upper and lowerlegs 35-35' which have substantially the same cross-sectionalconfiguration as the legs-11 and 12. Whenk' fthe build-up unit 10 is inassembly with the Adesktype` cabinet unit 30 a continuous at workingarea is provided by the legs 412 and 35, The build-up unit [1() isassembled with the desk-type'unit` 30 by, suitablenleas such` as byextending fasteners through the slots'17 and 22- of the legs ll'and 12and fastening themv in place 'with'respect to the side wall ofthecabinet 32.

A Abe provided by utilizing a series of lbasic dependent build- Shown inFig. l4 is another application-of my basic dependent build-up unit 10with a cabinet unit 36. The build-up unit 10 may be fastened tothecabinet unit 36 in the same manner as was set forth -in connection withthe assembly of the unit 10 with the desk-type cabinet unit 30. gcounterY structure 37 in assembly with the cabinet; 36 which"coun'terstructure 37 hasV substantially the same cross-section configurationvas-the upper leg-12. Itis in this manner that4 a continuous unbrokensubstantially level work area is provided. l y ,-1. In Fig. 5 is shownanother application of my depend- -ent buildfup unit with a lockercabinet 'unit 38. -The unit 38 is identical-with the unit 36 except thatthe cabinet `unit 36 in Fig. 4 is provided with a-series of drawers asIn this case, the cabinet unit 36 has-an upper i# opposed to the singlelocker door on the cabinet unit- 38 'in Fig.l 5. The relationship '.ofthe 'build-upf unit 10 `with respect tothe cabinet units 36 and 38 visotherwise vthe same. Y y g Shown in Fig. 6 is a modified dependentbuild-up unit 40 which is constructed substantially the s ar'ne as theunit 10 with the exception that upper leg-12' is substanvtiallyelongated in length relative to lower leg 11 and that the channel 22,shown inV Figure;y 1,l hasbeeneliminated from assembly with the leg12'.' In, this instance,

the build-up unit 1,3 is assembled with a door type cabi- -net structure4l to provide a desk type cabinet structure V42. The extendedfleg 12' isin overlying abutting dispofsition on top of the cabinet unit- 41.Fasteners of the type shown at 28 in Fig. 2 may be utilized to securethe lower leg 11 may be fastened to the cabinet unit v41 in the samemanner as is the leg 11 in build-up unit 1Y0. To provide additional'storage space, a stacked vseries of connected drawers 42 are suitablyfastened to the underside tothe upper leg 12]. A It will be noted thedesk type t cabinet i units 30 and '43 are substantially the same onlyone has drawer type cabinets and the other has door or locker typecabinets. In view of the foregoingit will now be appreciated how acontinuous row of desk-like units ofAlow, cost may extended leg 12, tothe upper wall of the cabinet 41. T he Y Mupunits in assembly with oneanother.

- I claim as my invention:

In a bench structure, a desk type bench unit comprising a basic benchunit and a build-up unit in assembly together, said buildup unitcomprised of a suitable bendable metal such as steel and the Alike andbeing U-shaped including spaced upper'and lower superimposedprefabricated legs with the upper leg comprising a metal counter and wththe lower leg comprising a metal rigidifying f.shelf,. an uprightcabinet portion connecting said legs together at, the bight of the U,said upper leg having opposite end portions with one end portionbeingcarried fon top of said' cabinet portion, fastening means securing 4saidone endportion in assembly'on top of said cabinet portion, and theotherof said'end portions being fasitened to the basic cabinet unit,said lower leg having l angled terminal portions and fasteners, oneofthe angled Yterminal portions having its fasteners extendingvtransversely therethrough securing the angled terminal portion againstsaid cabinet portion, and the other angled .terminal portion havingY itsfasteners extending transversely therethrough securing the angledterminal portion -to the basic cabinet. unit below said 'upper leg, saidlegs each including a generallyV horizontal at portion with'opl.positelyAextending integral vertical flange portionswith -the rear ange portionextending upwardly and the front -angeporton extending downwardly, saidfront portion of said upper leg comprising a skirt overlapping andyconcealing the junction of'said'leg with the top of.said

cabinet portion as well as serving as part of thefront of the;cabinetportion. I

References Cited in the file of patentv lUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,784,726*"Hallowell Q.- Dec. 9, 1930 1,892,415 Ulrich Dec. 27, 1932 2,492,541Stanitz Dec. 27 1949 2,665,183 Battles Jan. 5, 1954 2,708,292V Budai May17, 1955 2,755.155

Lu'ss L July 17, 1956

